Nowitzki, the reigning NBA Finals MVP, was nixed as a pitcher earlier in the day by MLB owners who were showing solidarity with the NBA owners during the lockout.

Sources told ESPNDallas.com that — with the NBA in the midst of a lockout that has spanned 111 days — at least some hesitation stems from the idea that MLB executives want to stand behind their basketball counterparts and have notified the Rangers that they can’t bestow first-pitch honors on an NBA player.